Immigration advocates say newly-released data shows a significant increase in immigration enforcement activity across the Bay Area and California.

The Deportation Data Project at UC Berkeley released new figures after requesting and then suing the federal government for access to immigration enforcement data. According to the project, Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests in the San Francisco area increased nearly 70% compared with the same period a year earlier.

Data released by the project showed 2,928 ICE arrests from January through July 2025, compared with 4,970 arrests during the same period in 2026.

"We're at a rate of deportations that's at about five times where it was under the Biden administration," said David Hausman, co-director of the Deportation Data Project and an assistant professor of law at UC Berkeley.

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Hausman said the types of arrests being made have changed.

"Arresting people out in the community or at check-ins is really a new thing in the sense that it was really uncommon before this administration," Hausman said. "And now we're seeing much, much more of that. So, the rate of arrests not happening at jails or prisons has gone up by over ten times."

According to the data, ICE arrested 982 people in San Francisco in July, the highest monthly total since the project began releasing data. The project also reported 4,274 arrests statewide in California during the same month, which it described as record numbers.

Bill Hing, a University of San Francisco professor and director of the Immigration and Deportation Defense Clinic, said the figures reflect a broader enforcement presence across the region.

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"These numbers tell us that ICE is here in the Bay Area, most people think that ICE is not only where there are sweeps and neighborhoods or Home Depot parking lots. But people should realize that every day ICE makes arrests all over the Bay Area," Hing said.

In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said, "ICE enforces the law as written. What makes someone a target for immigration enforcement is whether or not they are illegally in the U.S. - full stop."

The department also said, "This data is being cherry picked by the Deportation Data Project to peddle a false narrative."

Asked about who is being detained during immigration appointments, Hing said some of those arrested have pending claims.

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"The people that are getting detained when we accompany our clients are people who have overstayed their visas, even if they have a legitimate asylum claim pending. So, no one is safe. This is not about people who are criminals," Hing said.

Data also shows that ICE has detained more than 600 children in California. In some cases, parents are being asked to bring passports and their children to immigration hearings.

"That's a clear sign that they're going to arrest the entire family, and they're going to deport them right away," Hing said.

The latest figures add to an ongoing debate over immigration enforcement practices in California and the Bay Area.

"Since Day One, DHS law enforcement has been delivering on President Trump's promise to the American people to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists. We will continue to deliver on the President's promise to make America safe again.

"Our message is clear: if you come into our country illegally and break our laws, we will find you, we will arrest you, and we will deport you. ICE enforces the law as written. What makes someone a target for immigration enforcement is whether or not they are illegally in the U.S.- full stop.

"This data is being cherry picked by the Deportation Data Project to peddle a false narrative. The Deportation Data Project relies on information releases that have not been reviewed, audited or given context. DHS nor ICE have verified the accuracy, methodology or the analysis of the project and its results. The bottom line is that the Deportation Data Project is not accurate.

"Nationwide our law enforcement is targeting public safety threats-including murderers, rapists, gang members, pedophiles, and terrorists. Nearly 70% of illegal aliens ICE arrested across the country have criminal convictions or pending criminal charges just in the U.S. This statistic doesn't account for those wanted for violent crimes in their home country or another country, INTERPOL notices, human rights abusers, gang members, terrorists, etc. The list goes on.

"Further, every single one of these individuals committed a crime when they came into this country illegally."

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